On this, the follow-up to the acclaimed ‘Tiny Waves Mighty Sea’ collection, Future Pilot AKA is seen stepping out in a militaristic style with ‘Salute Your Soul’. Acknowledging, as Peter Tosh would describe, the current political ‘shituations’, Sushil K. Dade and his comrades are on hand to provide a sonic solution to help ease the pain with an offering of spirituals and gospel framed musics to soothe your soul.
Recorded as is their tradition, in an informal space, this time round a Glasgow tenement flat during a long hot summer; no noise police were called to the scene, and it was a peaceful demonstration documented in true guerrilla style. Most of the recruits were culled from Glasgow's legendary magical tea house, Tchai Ovna, including mission co-pilot and local sound terrorist, James Chapman AKA Colditz. Once again, angelic Indian vocals where provided by Vinita Dade, most notably on the haunting closing prayer, Aap Ke Bina, which was recorded on the top floor landing of the tenement staircase.
Special agent collaborative ammunition was selected to complete these recordings. World leaders and pioneers of dub, punk, and modern composition agreed to sign the treaty, and participate in the peace collective. Dub legend, Mikey Dread (producer of The Clash's Bank Robber/Sandinista phase) provides conscious lyrics and vocalization to opening track, 'Mein Nahi Jana', quoting Woody Guthrie's famous guitar sticker, 'this machine will kill fascists', within his freeform rap-attack, which was recorded at his legendary Dread at the Controls Studios in Miami.
One of the most distinctive voices from the only true wave of punk rock, Vic Godard (Subway Sect), leads a trinity of freedom fighters, Gerard Love, Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and James Kirk (Orange Juice) on an anti-war avant pop song, 'Love of the Land', which naturally brings together three of the greatest pop groups from this country, all in the name of peace. Minimalist composer, Philip Glass, contributes spoken word to the psychedelic Super8 boogie of ‘Ravi Shankar’, where he talks of his first encounter working with the sitar legend on a sound stage in Paris in the 1960s! This may be treated as the interlude, ideal for tea making or ice cream ceremonies.
The Staple Singers soul classic ‘If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)' is reclaimed and presented as a tonic for the freedom and unification of mankind. Salute Your Soul is epic in places - 'Heaven Celebrated On Earth'; small and calm on 'Salute The Divine Within You'; serene, ambitious, religious, important. And it is important that artists try to make sense of these insane times.
Future Pilot AKA for President. Spiritual Peace Unity Freedom. Over and Out…